August 11, 2023 - Merced – Merced Police Department officials report that on August 4, 2023, at approximately 4:15 P.M., the Merced Police Department received multiple calls about a stabbing in progress near W. 19th and V St. in Merced.  Officers responded to the area and found a 33-year-old man suffering from multiple life-threatening stab wounds.  The victim was transported to a regional trauma center and is expected to survive.

Officers spoke to several witnesses who said the suspect was sitting on top of the victim while repeatedly stabbing him in the upper body.  One witness, a retired law enforcement officer, chased after the knife wielding suspect and rammed him with his vehicle to prevent the suspect from stabbing anyone else.  The suspect flew 10 to 15 feet and fled from the scene. 

Officers quickly set up a perimeter and were able to apprehend the suspect who was identified as 23-year-old Julio Cesar Cisneros-Leon of Atwater.  Cisneros-Leon was treated for his injuries as a result of being struck by the vehicle and booked into the Merced County Jail for attempted murder.

Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this incident to contact Officer Justin Saldivar at (209)388-7735 or by email at saldivarj@cityofmerced.org.

Case Number: 2023-00040452

Other ways to contact us or report crime include:

For any emergency call or text 911

For non-emergency call 209-385-6912

Anonymous Tip Line (Non-emergency) call 209-385-4725

Anonymous Tips online at http://www.mercedareacrimestoppers.org/index.html.

Some crimes can be reported online through the Merced PD website https://www.cityofmerced.org/departments/police.

Source & photo: Merced Police Department